I have seen many lists of the nutrient value of compost, none of which were of useable value because the nutrients in compost are locked up. Damn Hobbits is real tricksy How long are these nutrients locked up? Until the protozoa and nematodes eat the bacteria and fungi that ate the organic matter. They have a name for this process, it is called composting. Once eaten by the protozoa and nematodes (which too are eaten), the poop released is in a form the plants can use. So, lets say Blutranes has a big pile of organic matter; bacteria and fungi start feeding on the material, their population explodes within the pile. Blutranes gets a bright idea and pours Coke-Cola on the pile, the bacteria and fungi go nuts! They consume nitrogen in the pile to feed on the cola carbon soaked onto all the other organic matter. The pile starts to heat up to the point of smoking the feeding is so frantic. If something isnÂt done soon, the pile will be overpopulated with bacteria and fungi. Now comes the protozoa and nematodes, they smell food and they will not be denied, and they get at all this tasty eating. The pile starts to shrink; the feeding is intense and constant. Other organisms see their chance and get in on the feeding, shrinking the pile further. Blutranes knows all the action is mostly in the core of the pile, so he turns the pile so the organic matter on the outside gets to the inside. All hell breaks loose again, causing even more smoke to manifest. Blutranes pile is a prime example of birth, feeding, sex, pooping, and death. If this keeps up Blutranes will be left with a pile of completely decompose organic matter, a pile of finished compost. If Blutranes is patient enough to leave the pile alone, the feeding will continue to a lesser extent, but the results will be a pile of nutrients that have been consumed many times over, resulting in a pile of dynamite for his plants to feed on, the choice is Blutranes. If compost only has about 1 percent Nitrogen where do the plants get the rest of that N they need to grow, when compost is the only source of nutrients used? From the air, if the pile is left alone long enough to breed the bacteria that fix nitrogen from the air. Compost allowed to cure this long will provide not only nitrogen but all the other nutrients needed if said nutrients are provided to the soil food web. However, this requires patience and knowledge that the entire process will provide these results. Providing half the information makes learning real "tricksy" for those not aware, and not very good community relations, not very good at all Blutranes

Renealmia are used by the locals in several places, but i haven't seen too much written about it. The plant photographed is a Renealmia, but it would be hard to say which one with no more details. There are several species in panama. Tim Chapman

Hi, I'm always happy to see interest in one of my favs. I've used various Fothergillas in garden designs for years. F. gardenii is the "dwarf" F. and will stay quite compact(2-4'). F. major will get much larger(reportedly6'+). F. 'Mount Airy' is a F.major cultivar that matures somewhere between gardenii & major. Yes all have GREAT fall color but also have a nice form thru winter and, yes, flowers that explain the common name "bottle brush bush" so don't cut them off till you experience them. They are a creamy white quite uniqe form. Yes, they are related to Witch Hazel(Hamamelis sp.) But that's a whole 'nuther chat. Enjoy...

Check your library or book store on collectable dishes. Also check Antique Road show ==they might have something similiar. It seems to me people are not buying dishes much now. I have some cups and saucers that are over 200 years old and cannot sell them.